According to the Los Angeles Times, he called Clinton — a potential Democratic presidential front-runner in 2016 — a “very, very capable public servant, great secretary of state, first lady,” when asked what he thought about her at a Bay Area event.

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His comments came as Clinton, whose new book was released Tuesday, has embarked on a book tour — and is serving as a lightening rod for criticism from much of Perry’s party.

Perry, who ran a 2012 presidential bid characterized by embarrassing missteps, has been seeking to refashion himself as wiser and more conciliatory in recent months, though he didn’t maintain the same moderate tone throughout the whole evening: That night he also likened being gay to alcoholism, according to local news reports.

“I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way,” he said when asked whether he believes homosexuality is a “disorder.”